General Strike

May 24, 1985

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA — Labor unions controlled by opponents of President Raul Alfonsin went on strike throughout Argentina Thursday. The walkout was to last 13 hours. The reason: A protest against economic austerity measures and the ''usurious dictatorship'' of the International Monetary Fund. Hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Buenos Aires. Police and riot vehicles blocked access to the presidential palace, but the mood of the demonstrators was relaxed. On Wednesday Alfonsin said he was determined to bring down Argentina's 940 percent inflation rate and he taunted labor leaders about ''crying'' instead of trying to solve problems.